Wizards turn on the style as Drovers are beaten

LLANDOVERY went down 40-29 at home to Aberavon in their final workout before the start of the new Indigo Premiership Cup which begins this Saturday, writes Huw S Thomas.

The Drovers and Wizards went at it full tilt at a sunny Church Bank in an 11-try thriller.

The Drovers had the better of the first half, looking in control until shaken by an interception try. But they had to give second best in the contact area after the break when the Aberavon pack built up a head of steam.

“We were very good in the first half, stuttered against the physicality of the Aberavon pack and their speed in defence after the break, but finished strongly,” said Llandovery head coach Euros Evans.

“It did not help our cause that we gave away two interception tries but we were edged in the contact area. We hope to be back to nearly full strength for Swansea this Saturday.”

Llandovery took the lead with a try created by a dummy from flanker Stuart Worrall and finished off by centre Rhodri Wall.

They went further ahead when Wall made a scorching break before feeding scrum-half Lee Rees, who raced in from 30 metres to make it 10-0.

Aberavon grabbed a try back when centre Chay Smith intercepted a long pass from home fly-half Ryan Williams and outstripped the cover.

Llandovery responded immediately when a delicate inside pass from centre Kristian Jones gave wing Aaron Warren the chance to round his opposite number Frankie Jones for a try converted by Williams.

The Wizards hit back with flanker Lee Purnell crossing and fly-half Aled Thomas adding the conversion. And they went ahead with a try by No. 8 Andy Waite.

Back came the Drovers with a fine individual try from full-back Will Thomas who took a high ball, sidestepped a couple of defenders and darted over. It gave the Drovers a 24-19 halftime lead.

Within seconds of restart, Aberavon regained the lead as flanker Lloyd Evans intercepted a Will Thomas pass to gallop in unchallenged.

Full-back Chris Banfield soon added another and wing Matthew Jenkins then crossed for their sixth try.

But Llandovery had the last word with a try by replacement Lawrence Thomas.

In other weekend friendlies, Carmarthen Quins went down 13-10 at home to Cardiff, while Llanelli won 78-12 at Trimsaran.